Riverside Park Yesterday

[Steve Christopherson]

I fished the GW Pkwy bridge at Riverside Park yesterday at incoming
tide. I landed one fat 10" yellow perch (biggest I've caught) on a #2
white clouser, but no other takes. Hight tide was at 3pm so we arrived
at 12:30 to find several large fish hitting bait near the surface.
Unfortunately they were all either on the other side (on the south side)
of the channel or out further in the channel near the navigation buoys.

I was fishing a 9' 7wt with a sinking line (type II) and with current
being so strong (very strong) it reminded me of steelhead fishing the Ho
River in Washington State - I have a hard time roll casting with a
sinking line, especially when my slack line is being dragged in the
current as well (a stripping basket would have been good). Fortunately,
the water is shallow and you can wade out far enough to work a short
backcast with a double haul. My type II sinks too fast for that
location and I'll try floating line next time. Makes me want a spey rod
for sure. Might try my kayak next time at high slack tide. With the
kayak, I can actually stalk the fish once they present themselves, and a
long cast is not critical.

Also, watch for snags at the bottom. I lost a few flies. The water was
very clear and the bottom was visible making wading easy.

All in all, a good day fishing.

Steve

[Rob Pallace]

Steve

Thanks for the update. I am Rob Pallace, a new member of TPFR and Alexandria resident and I am considering buying a kayak for fly fishing in the Potomac around here--mostly in the more sheltered areas. Do you have any recommendations or advice when you get a moment? If you have a chance I would be grateful. My web research is giving me information overload.

Kindly,

Rob Pallace
Alexandria VA, TPFR Member

-----Original Message-----
From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Christopherson

Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:19 AM
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Riverside Park Yesterday

[Steve Christopherson]

Rob,
I have two Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120s and love them.  There are so many options out there for sit on top boats, but my decision was made easy when REI put them on sale for $500 each.  I haven't regretted it.  There are more stable boats out there, but the Tarpon 120 tracks better than many others and is fast and easy to maneuver.  If I fished beyond the surf in open water I'd go for a longer, wider kayak.  As it is, I can spend hours in the Tarpon 120, sit side saddle and dangle my feet off one side, but because it's a smaller boat, you cannot stand in it or access the bow hatch without seriously destabilizing the kayak (I have to beach the boat and/or have a buddy in another boat access the hatch for me).  It's fine really.  If I were taking the fish and needed a place to stow them, then getting to the bow hatch would be important. 

Mine don't have padded seats, just padded seat backs.  The new ones are more comfortable.  There are some really cool boats on the market: the Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks are very cool and I've seen at least one other fisherman with one on the Potomac (with his lab retriever on board as well). 

Fishing from a kayak requires a lot of organization. I started rigging milk crates and buckets and rod holders, etc. but now I'm back to the bare minimum.   I've had them three years and still haven't put rod holders in them.  I like having two rods: a fly rod and a spinning rod.  The best website I've found for reference is http://www.blueridgekayakfishing.com/.  I've found I prefer to use the longest rod possible - since in a kayak one sits low in the water, a longer rod helps keep one's line off the water when false casting.  I always use a 9' rod in my kayak. 

Fishing on the Potomac from a kayak is great and I'm always finding new places nearby to explore.  Using an anchor system is not recommended on rivers, however, there are opportunities in some of the water to use one.  Mine's a cheap retractable dog leash with a 3 lb handweight (the rubber coated kind) attached (both available at Walmart).  In still water it's good to have when the wind picks up.  Since the Kayak is a very stealthy fishing platform getting closer to the fish is more possible. 

This should be a good time of year to get some good deals on kayaks too.  Hope this helps. 

Steve

[Paul Brooks]

Rob,

 

My recommendation for buying a Kayak is Craig’s List.  I’ve bought and sold several.  During the winter/spring I’ve picked them up for as little as $150.

 

I currently fish from a sit inside, only due to the fact I don’t have room in my townhouse for a sit on top.  Having fished from both a sit inside and a sit on top, I agree w/ Steve.  Buy a sit on Top.

 

Another really good sight is http://www.topkayaker.net/index.html They have a really good selection of equipment, excellent articles, and they are willing to provide expertise when equipping your boat.

 

Cheers,

Paul

[Rob Snowhite]

I agree with the craigslist. There are lots of people who buy all the
gear and then realize they are not into it. I got a sit on top ocean
kayak frenzy and all the sides for the retail price of the kayak
alone. I'd love to trade up and get one with pedals so I can move and
fish at the same time and not be at the mercy of the current in lakes
and bays. I'm still pissed I did not buy a canoe/kayak cart for $25 a
few years ago, the ones they sell at r.e.i. for over 100.

Any local kayak info can be obtained here: http://www.ckapco.com/

Milk crates (and pool noodles) are the kayakers friend I have learned.
Though I now have constructed a lid for my gear crate after going over
a waterfall in Wva and dumping all contents and loosing a box with
about 3 doz clousers.

Another good site is: http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com --> forum.

I say we plan a canoe or kayak flotilla next spring or summer from
fletchers to gravelly. Full day float. A full on TPFR Armada

On Nov 13, 7:27 am, "Paul Brooks" <pnkbrook...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Rob,
>
> My recommendation for buying a Kayak is Craig's List.  I've bought and sold
> several.  During the winter/spring I've picked them up for as little as
> $150.
>
> I currently fish from a sit inside, only due to the fact I don't have room
> in my townhouse for a sit on top.  Having fished from both a sit inside and
> a sit on top, I agree w/ Steve.  Buy a sit on Top.
>

> Another really good sight ishttp://www.topkayaker.net/index.htmlThey have

> website I've found for reference ishttp://www.blueridgekayakfishing.com/.

[Paul Brooks]

I would love to float the river w/ some other anglers. Sounds like a good
plan.

[knuckle]

After watching this guy pull some monsters out of the Chesapeake Bay
http://www.kayakkevin.com/home.html, I too want a kayak . Thanks for
all the advice, specially about buying it used. This should make it
an easier sell to the wife.

Wes

On Nov 13, 9:07 am, "Paul Brooks" <pnkbrook...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I would love to float the river w/ some other anglers.  Sounds like a good
> plan.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
>
> [mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob
> Snowhite
> Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 7:58 AM
> To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders
> Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Riverside Park Yesterday
>
> I agree with the craigslist. There are lots of people who buy all the
> gear and then realize they are not into it. I got a sit on top ocean
> kayak frenzy and all the sides for the retail price of the kayak
> alone. I'd love to trade up and get one with pedals so I can move and
> fish at the same time and not be at the mercy of the current in lakes
> and bays. I'm still pissed I did not buy a canoe/kayak cart for $25 a
> few years ago, the ones they sell at r.e.i. for over 100.
>
> Any local kayak info can be obtained here:http://www.ckapco.com/
>
> Milk crates (and pool noodles) are the kayakers friend I have learned.
> Though I now have constructed a lid for my gear crate after going over
> a waterfall in Wva and dumping all contents and loosing a box with
> about 3 doz clousers.
>

> Another good site is:http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com--> forum.

[John Passacantando]

I found this advise on a woodworkers site and have modified it for our
addiction:

When buying new gear, alway throw away all wrappings, boxes, packaging
before bringing it home. Bring the gear home like you just emerged
with it from the woods, streams or lakes. Don't treat it like a new
jewel, a sure sign that you paid a significant sum that should have
instead be put into the college fund or to repair the leaky plumbing.
And never, ever complain about her buying new shoes. It may look like
20 pairs of identical black shoes but somewhere there is a list serve
where people are talking about the subtle differences in straps,
heels, buckles, etc. Either don't notice or act like new shoes are
imperative, she'd likely be walking barefoot without another pair,
just as we wouldn't stand a chance at catching a fish without a new
fly rod.

John

[Paul Vanderveen]

Before you run out and buy a kayak take a moment to consider a good old
canoe. I have used both mostly on the non-tidal sections of our local river.
I find several advantages that canoes have over kayaks.

First: the generally lower weights of canoes. My feeling is that the lighter
the boat you have, the more likely you will be able to access the tougher
launch sites. I have easily carried my canoe over a mile to get to "that
really special" spot.

Second: I like the slightly higher sitting position a canoe offers. Even
though I sit a mere inches higher that my kayaking friends, I feel it pays
off in both increased ability to lift my line off the water surface as well
as added room for striping in line. I can strip line straight into the
bottom of the boat as apposed to stripping into my lap as I would have to do
in a kayak.

Lastly: Canoes offer the convenience of being able to take just about
anything I want on fishing outings. Extra rods, boxes of extra flies,
coolers, kitchen sinks..... You get the point.

BTW, My boat of choice is an Old Towne Pack. Not too fast but one of the
lightest (33lbs.) car-top to water choices on the market. Obviously, I WOULD
NOT RECOMMEND THIS CRAFT FOR THE OPEN WATER OF THE BAY LET ALOWN OFF SHORE.

Tight Lines, P

[stan...@gmail.com]

I find a kayak much easier to control when fishing - I fish from a Wilderness Systems Pungo and keep the paddle propped on the sides in front of men for ease of making adjustments. A kayak seems to be less susceptable to winds than a canoe.
Tight lines,
Stan Oaks
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Tom Mann]

I agree that canoes are good for fishing, but less seaworthy than kayaks, which, in principle, can roll over complely (i.e. 360 degrees) and stay afloat.  My one piece of advice about canoes: An important feature is a minimal keel.  This helps it track better.  The old Grumman aluminum canoes have nice keels, and they were the standard for whitewater, float trips, and lake paddling (where wind can be a factor).  A lot of the modern lightweight canoes have no keels, and they sideslip when you want to go straight.  

Tight lines to all, and I think it's okay for women to have more shoes than guys have fly rods.  

---

Thomas O. Mann
3108 38th St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
towe...@aol.com
+1 202.966.5923

Vieux Village
84290 Cairanne
France
tom...@orange.fr
+33 [0]4.90.30.77.63

“The fishing was good. It was the catching that was bad.” A.K. Best

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Vanderveen <pa...@earthlink.net>

[Mako]

From the peanut gallery:   - I wholeheartedly support the idea of forming a TPFR floatilla in the spring.  Excellent proposal.   - I did a lot of research on SOT kayaks a couple of years ago, so this is somewhat dated, but I'll throw out a few of the models I was looking most closely at: Native Magic (pricey), WS Tarpon 120 (great boat), OK Prowler, Emotion Mojo (now also available through Costco under a different name).  Something realtively new that I've come across and looks nice is the Feelfree Moken, or something like that.    Footnote: SOT's held the edge for me because of the stability.  You can sit side-saddle if you want.  One of the many things I really liked about the Tarpon specifically is its recessed scupper holes, which will reduce the chances that a rock will do catastrophic damage to the hull.   - For the aspiring surf caster on a budget:  Beulah offers one of the few surf-specific two-handers out there and they are very nice--coming in around the high 4's.  Cabela's at this very moment also has a sale on their house-brand LST two-handers, which don't seem to be great traditional spey rods to me because they claim fast action--perhaps more Scandi style.  But that could make for a good TH surf rod.  Price?  A buck twenty.   Mako --- On Sat, 11/14/09, Tom Mann <towe...@aol.com> wrote:

[Steve Christopherson]

Native Watercrafts makes the "Ultimate" which is sort of a hybrid canoe/kayak - very popular with Redfish fly anglers down south fishing the salt marshes.  You can stand in it.  It's not a blue water boat - nor for the open water on the bay I'd think.  I've fished from both canoes and kayaks.  Both are great, and within the Kayak class, there are many VERY different options for inshore and blue water fishing (I'd use a blue water boat for the Bay if you plan to fish the bridges, wrecks and islands.  You want a boat that will take some real effort to flip, at least 14 feet long, something you can stand in would be even better. 

Try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKjS5irBAG0


Steve

[Chris W.]

>  
> - For the aspiring surf caster on a budget:  Beulah offers one of the few surf-specific two-handers out there and they are very nice--coming in around the high 4's.  Cabela's at this very moment also has a sale on their house-brand LST two-handers, which don't seem to be great traditional spey rods to me because they claim fast action--perhaps more Scandi style.  But that could make for a good TH surf rod.  Price?  A buck twenty.
>  
> Mako
>

I saw their sale too Mako, and the lure (get it..lure :D) of a
Redington Rs4 8wt 14' spey at $199 -and additional $30 off $150 coupon
they were offering was too strong when I saw it Friday. WHen I get it,
I hope to try it out before the season ends, and a whole bunch next
season. (Now to figure out lining the thing.)

I even confessed to my wife, and shockingly, she said "sounds like a
good deal honey". Woohoo :D

Chris